2007 Cricket World Cup - 2nd Semi-Final: Australia vs South Africa
{{date|April 25, 2007}}

[[w:Australia national cricket team|Australia]] have beaten [[w:South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] by 7 wickets in the second Semi-Final match in the [[w:2007 Cricket World Cup|World Cup]] at the [[w:Beausejour Stadium|Beausejour Stadium]], [[w:Gros Islet Quarter|Gros Islet]], [[w:Saint Lucia|Saint Lucia]].

Australia progress to the Final to play yesterday's winners [[w:Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] with a chance to win their third consecutive title.

After winning the toss, South Africa decided to bat. They lost captain [[w:Graeme Smith|Smith]] in the second over followed by the rest of the top-middle order collapse - including [[w:Glenn McGrath|McGrath]] taking the wickets of [[w:Ashwell Prince|Ashwell Prince]] and [[w:Mark Boucher|Mark Boucher]] in successive balls. He almost claimed his first World Cup hat-trick but the third ball sailed inches wide of [[w:Justin Kemp|Justin Kemp's]] off stump. 149 is the worst batting performance in this World Cup for South Africa.

Despite losing [[w:Adam Gilchrist|Adam Gilchrist]] in the 2nd over, Australia never really struggled. Helped by another 40 from this year's top scorer [[w:Matthew Hayden|Matthew Hayden]] (who is now only 52 runs behind [[w:Sachin Tendulkar|Sachin Tendulkar's]] record of 673 runs in a single World Cup, achieved in 2003) and 60* from [[w:Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]] they eased towards their place in the final inside 32 overs.

'''Toss:''' South Africa won, and elected to bat first.

{{Cricket match batting box begin|title=[[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|20px]] [[w:South African cricket team|South Africa innings]]}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Graeme Smith|Graeme Smith]]|status=b Bracken|runs=2|balls=5|4s=0|6s=0|strike_rate=40.00}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Abraham de Villiers|Abraham de Villiers]]|status=c Gilchrist b Tait|runs=15|balls=34|4s=3|6s=0|strike_rate=44.11}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Jacques Kallis|Jacques Kallis]]|status=b McGrath|runs=5|balls=9|4s=1|6s=0|strike_rate=55.55}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Herschelle Gibbs|Herschelle Gibbs]]|status=c Gilchrist b Tait|runs=39|balls=49|4s=6|6s=0|strike_rate=79.59}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Ashwell Prince|Ashwell Prince]]|status=c Gilchrist b McGrath|runs=0|balls=2|4s=0|6s=0|strike_rate=00.00}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Mark Boucher|Mark Boucher]]|status=c Hayden b McGrath|runs=0|balls=1|4s=0|6s=0|strike_rate=00.00}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Justin Kemp|Justin Kemp]]|status=not out|runs=49|balls=91|4s=4|6s=1|strike_rate=53.84}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Andrew Hall|Andrew Hall]]|status=c Gilchrist b Tait|runs=3|balls=8|4s=0|6s=0|strike_rate=37.50}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Shaun Pollock|Shaun Pollock]]|status=	c & b Hogg|runs=5|balls=13|4s=1|6s=0|strike_rate=38.46}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Andre Nel|Andre Nel]]|status= c Clarke b Tait|runs=8|balls=41|4s=1|6s=0|strike_rate=19.51}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Charl Langeveldt|C Langeveldt]]|status= b Watson|runs=6|balls=10|4s=1|6s=0|strike_rate=60.00}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=Extras|status=(lb 4, w 13)|runs=17|balls=|4s=|6s=|strike_rate=}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player='''Total'''|status=('''all out'''; 43.5 overs)|runs='''149'''|balls=|4s=17|6s=1|strike_rate=}}
{{Cricket match box end}}

'''Fall of wickets:''' 1-7 (Smith, 2.3 ov), 2-12 (Kallis, 5.3 ov), 3-26 (de Villiers, 8.5 ov), 4-27 (Prince, 9.4 ov), 5-27 (Boucher, 9.5 ov), 6-87 (Gibbs, 22.5 ov), 7-93 (Hall, 26.1 ov), 8-103 (Pollock, 29.4 ov), 9-130 (Nel, 40.1 ov), 10-149 (Langeveldt, 43.5 ov)

{{Cricket match bowling box begin|title=[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|20px]] [[w:Australian cricket team|Australia bowling]]}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Nathan Bracken|Nathan Bracken]]|overs=7|maiden=2|runs=15|wickets=1|econ=2.14}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Glenn McGrath|Glenn McGrath]]|overs=8|maiden=1|runs=18|wickets=3|econ=2.25}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Shaun Tait|Shaun Tait]]|overs=10|maiden=0|runs=39|wickets=4|econ=3.90}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Shane Watson|Shane Watson]]|overs=8.5|maiden=0|runs=49|wickets=1|econ=5.54}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Brad Hogg|Brad Hogg]]|overs=10|maiden=2|runs=24|wickets=1|econ=2.40}}

{{Cricket match box end}}

{{Cricket match batting box begin|title=[[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|20px]] [[w:Australian cricket team|Australia innings]] (Target: 150 runs from 50 overs)}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Adam Gilchrist|Adam Gilchrist]]|status=b Langeveldt|runs=1|balls=5|4s=0|6s=0|strike_rate=20.00}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Matthew Hayden|Matthew Hayden]]|status=c Smith b Pollock|runs=41|balls=60|4s=4|6s=0|strike_rate=69.33}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Ricky Ponting|Ricky Ponting]]|status=b Nel|runs=22|balls=25|4s=5|6s=0|strike_rate=88.00}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]]|status=not out|runs=60|balls=86|4s=8|6s=0|strike_rate=69.76}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=[[w:Andrew Symonds|Andrew Symonds]]|status=not out|runs=18|balls=16|4s=3|6s=0|strike_rate=112.50}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player=Extras|status=(lb 5; w 3; nb 3)|runs=11|balls=|4s=|6s=|strike_rate=}}
{{Cricket match batsman status|player='''Total'''|status=('''3 Wickets'''; 31.3 overs)|runs='''153'''|balls=|4s=20|6s=0|strike_rate=}}
{{Cricket match box end}}

'''Fall of wickets:''' 1-1 (Gilchrist, 1.1 ov), 2-44 (Ponting, 8.6 ov), 3-111 (Hayden, 24.4 ov)

'''Did not bat:''' [[w:Michael Hussey|Michael Hussey]], [[w:Shane Watson|Shane Watson]], [[w:Brad Hogg|Brad Hogg]], [[w:Nathan Bracken|Nathan Bracken]], [[w:Shaun Tait|Shaun Tait]], [[w:Glenn McGrath|Glenn McGrath]].

{{Cricket match bowling box begin|title=[[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|20px]] [[w:South African cricket team|South Africa bowling]]}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Shaun Pollock|Shaun Pollock]]|overs=5|maiden=1|runs=16|wickets=1|econ=3.20}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Charl Langeveldt|Charl Langeveldt]]|overs=6|maiden=0|runs=34|wickets=1|econ=5.66}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Jacques Kallis|Jacques Kallis]]|overs=5|maiden=1|runs=20|wickets=0|econ=4.00}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Andre Nel|Andre Nel]]|overs=7|maiden=1|runs=31|wickets=1|econ=4.42}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Andrew Hall|Andrew Hall]]|overs=6.3|maiden=0|runs=43|wickets=0|econ=6.61}}
{{Cricket match bowler status|bowler=[[w:Justin Kemp|Justin Kemp]]|overs=2|maiden=0|runs=4|wickets=0|econ=2.00}}
{{Cricket match box end}}

'''Australia:''' [[w:Adam Gilchrist|A C Gilchrist]] (wkt), [[w:Matthew Hayden|M L Hayden]],  [[w:Ricky Ponting|R T Ponting]] (capt), [[w:Michael Clarke (cricketer)|M J Clarke]], [[w:Andrew Symonds|A Symonds]], [[w:Michael Hussey|M E K Hussey]], [[w:Shane Watson|S R Watson]], [[w:Brad Hogg|G B Hogg]], [[w:Nathan Bracken|N W Bracken]], [[w:Shaun Tait|S W Tait]], [[w:Glenn McGrath|G D McGrath]]<br>
'''South Africa:''' [[w:Graeme Smith|G C Smith]] (capt), [[w:Abraham de Villiers|A B de Villiers]], [[w:Jacques Kallis|J H Kallis]], [[w:Herschelle Gibbs|H H Gibbs]], [[w:Ashwell Prince|A G Prince]], [[w:Justin Kemp|J M Kemp]], [[w:Mark Boucher|M V Boucher]] (wkt), [[w:Shaun Pollock|S M Pollock]], [[w:Andrew Hall|A J Hall]], [[w:Andre Nel|A Nel]], [[w:Charl Langeveldt|C K Langeveldt]]<br>

'''Player of the match:''' [[w:Glenn McGrath|G D McGrath]]

Umpires: [[w:Aleem Dar|Aleem Dar]] (Pakistan) and [[w:Steve Bucknor|S A Bucknor]] (West Indies)<br>
TV umpire: [[w:Billy Bowden|B F Bowden]] (New Zealand)<br>
Match referee: [[w:Jeff Crowe|J J Crowe]] (New Zealand)<br>
Reserve umpire: [[w:Mark Benson|M R Benson]] (England)<br>

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/wc2007/engine/current/match/247506.html|title=2nd Semi-Final: Australia v South Africa at Gros Islet, Apr 25, 2007|author=|pub=Cricinfo|date=April 25, 2007}}
{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}

[[Category:West Indies]]
[[Category:South Africa]]
[[Category:Australia]]
[[Category:Cricket]]
[[Category:2007 Cricket World Cup]]
Australia have beaten South Africa by 7 wickets in the second Semi-Final match in the World Cup at the Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia.

Australia progress to the Final to play yesterday's winners Sri Lanka with a chance to win their third consecutive title.

After winning the toss, South Africa decided to bat. They lost captain Smith in the second over followed by the rest of the top-middle order collapse - including McGrath taking the wickets of Ashwell Prince and Mark Boucher in successive balls. He almost claimed his first World Cup hat-trick but the third ball sailed inches wide of Justin Kemp's off stump. 149 is the worst batting performance in this World Cup for South Africa.

Despite losing Adam Gilchrist in the 2nd over, Australia never really struggled. Helped by another 40 from this year's top scorer Matthew Hayden (who is now only 52 runs behind Sachin Tendulkar's record of 673 runs in a single World Cup, achieved in 2003) and 60* from Michael Clarke they eased towards their place in the final inside 32 overs.

'Toss:' South Africa won, and elected to bat first.

'Fall of wickets:' 1-7 (Smith, 2.3 ov), 2-12 (Kallis, 5.3 ov), 3-26 (de Villiers, 8.5 ov), 4-27 (Prince, 9.4 ov), 5-27 (Boucher, 9.5 ov), 6-87 (Gibbs, 22.5 ov), 7-93 (Hall, 26.1 ov), 8-103 (Pollock, 29.4 ov), 9-130 (Nel, 40.1 ov), 10-149 (Langeveldt, 43.5 ov)


'Fall of wickets:' 1-1 (Gilchrist, 1.1 ov), 2-44 (Ponting, 8.6 ov), 3-111 (Hayden, 24.4 ov)

'Did not bat:' Michael Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath.


'Australia:' A C Gilchrist (wkt), M L Hayden,  R T Ponting (capt), M J Clarke, A Symonds, M E K Hussey, S R Watson, G B Hogg, N W Bracken, S W Tait, G D McGrath
'South Africa:' G C Smith (capt), A B de Villiers, J H Kallis, H H Gibbs, A G Prince, J M Kemp, M V Boucher (wkt), S M Pollock, A J Hall, A Nel, C K Langeveldt

'Player of the match:' G D McGrath

Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and S A Bucknor (West Indies)
TV umpire: B F Bowden (New Zealand)
Match referee: J J Crowe (New Zealand)
Reserve umpire: M R Benson (England)
West Indies South Africa Australia Cricket 2007 Cricket World Cup